Tuesday, September 6, 2016

David Ortiz: Donald Trump's wall a 'slap in the face' to Latinos

It’s no surprise Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz has one of the biggest personalities within the game. His charm and charisma, combined with his performance, have made him one of the more respected players around the league. When Ortiz talks, others tend to listen.
Typically, those opinions tend to focus on baseball. But with a polarizing president election approaching, Ortiz was willing to go outside his comfort zone to speak his mind. In a wide-ranging interview with Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today, David Ortiz condemned Donald Trump’s plans to build a wall on the Mexican border, calling it a “slap in the face” to Latinos.
“When you speak like that about us, it’s a slap in the face,” Ortiz said of Latinos in general. “I walk around sometimes, and I see Mexican people trying to earn a living in an honest way. And to hear somebody make those kinds of comments, it hits you. I think as Latin people we deserve better. Things have gotten much better in that regard. … As Latin people we deserve respect, no matter where you’re from. And especially our Mexican brothers, who come here willing to do all the dirty work.
 “Latin people here in the United States are the spark plug of the country’s economy. Whoever opposes that is going to lose. And not just Latin people but immigrants. I’m talking about people who come from Africa, from Asia, other places. All those people come here with one goal, to realize the American dream, and you have to include them in our group.”
 Ortiz is hardly the first sports star to share his opinion on the upcoming election. In fact, he’s not even the first Red Sox to do so. Earlier this season, pitcher Clay Buchholz explained why he supports Trump’s bid for election.
Other players have weighed in as well. In a July article over at USA Today, Jorge L. Ortiz talked to a number of players who were willing to share their thoughts on the election. Giants infielder Ramiro Pena expressed concern over a Trump presidency, while Oakland Athletics reliever Ryan Madson said he believes Trump’s policies are not “anti-immigrant.”
David Ortiz isn't a fan of Donald Trump's wall. (Getty Images/Thearon W. Henderson)
David Ortiz isn’t a fan of Donald Trump’s wall. (Getty Images/Thearon W. Henderson)
Of the players who have weighed in on the issue, Ortiz is easily the biggest name of the bunch. And considering the big market he plays in, his comments are sure to get more attention and coverage compared to what we’ve seen thus far.
There will likely be a strong “stick to sports” outcry from those who oppose Ortiz’s opinions. While Ortiz admits he typically stays out of the political arena, it’s clear this specific issue was far too important to him to simply ignore.

No comments:

Post a Comment